The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-10
ALLY AfPEAL--.SUNDAY, APRIL 10. lSS

70 the greatest happiness of
the many. Beecher scorned the
ide OF an everlasting hell where
the many would be forever cursed.
Democracy is of its nature progress
sive: Beeeher lent an ear to the
teachings Of evolution. Again, l
have been surprised to find this man
advocating truth which has been
taught here in this hall for years. He
contended that morality was the
germ and religion the flower; that
men acted and believed according to
their virtue, and that the God they
figured to themselves was something
corresponding to their morality.
But he was not one Of US. Be
cause he boldly said some things
there were those who thought him a
free thinker, but too fearful to avow
himself such. No, Mr.. Beecher was
too bold and broad to have shrunk
from fully formulating what he
deeply felt. He had large sympa-
thies. He was broad enough to feel
a sympathy with some of Bob Inger-
soils defiant remarks and to accept
a part OF Herbert Spencers teach
ings. He did not accept all of either.
Beecher could combine elements log
ically irreconcilable and totally in
congruous. The reason Of this was
because the great preacher was en-
tirely subject to the sway OF feeling.
But he was Christian to the end.
This sensuous, emotional quality in
him made even God too abstract a
thing for him, and he chung to the
Saviour, to the Chr st, the man. God
to him was a dreamy ef1uence, but
God meant for him literally love.
Beecher always acted throughout
under the influence of feeling"
Prof. Adler then spoke OF what he
called Beecher's second great aspect,
the political, and referred to his
course against slavery and during
the war. Mr.. Adler then alluded to
Mr.. Beecher's attitude in regard to
the anti-Jewish feeling which once
ragged SO strongly, "and still exists,
even among people cultured in other
respects, bat barbarians in this. "
Mr.: Adler warmed in this part of
his Grafton to his greatest elo-
queuce, and furnished the only
point in his remarks which seemed
to show that his estimate of Beecher
was to degree biased by personal
feeling. If" he said in ringing
tones, "ruffians assail a gentleman of
dignifed worth, and even defile him
with mud, should he afterward meet
a gentleman friend who salutes him
with the respect due his character
and not his despatched clothes, he
does not thank him for giving him
his due, but he may feel warmly an
appreciation Of him. This is the way
Jews and all right minded men and
women must feel toward Beecher,
glad that his humanity rose above
the baseness of so many. 1t is a deep
and damning disgrace that | should
need to say that Christian minister
did so rise" [Applause.]
"Mr. Beecher, then, is mile post
on the road we have passed, to show
how far we have progressed. But we
have to look for greater and alarger
type of preacher in the time to come.
But it would be ungracious to close
my comments with a criticism. A
public man may rightly demand to be
Judged by his environments, his CON
ditious. So judged, Henry Ward
Beecher deserves unstinted praise.
Let us remember the good he has
done, and the nation can cover his
grave with flowers. Let him pass to
the shades, and jSin Lincoln, Sum-
ner, Phillips and Grant, as the great
war preacher. Let that be his title
to enduring fame" Great applause. ]